PUEBLO, Colo. (July 7, 2010) - Enjoying the best season of their respective careers, both Skeeter Kingsolver – ranked 11th in the world standings – and Josh Koschel – ranked 13th – had hoped to reassert themselves as world-title contenders beginning next week when the Built Ford Tough Series resumes in Tulsa, Okla.
Instead, both riders are reeling from injuries sustained recently at Touring Pro events. Kingsolver, who tore his PCL, is out of competition for the next three months, while Koschel is hoping to have an MRI performed sometime Wednesday on his previously-injured shoulder.
Koschel sat out for the better part of a month before testing his shoulder last weekend in Park Rapids, Minn. According to the Colorado native, “It wasn’t good,” and although he made the whistle, he added, “It wasn’t ready,” and he said he felt intense pain after feeling it pop.
While he was intending to compete in Tulsa, Koschel is now less optimistic that he’ll be ready next week. The 25-year-old, who finished 20th in the world standings last year, is currently 3,477.75 points off the lead.
Kingsolver, who injured his knee in Bismarck, N.D., said he didn’t have the knee examined because he didn’t experience any trouble walking. However, after undergoing an MRI last week, he’s been advised by Dr. Tandy Freeman to allow the injury three months to heal.
Kingsolver said he was told that if he were to continue competing, he could further compromise his knee, and surgery would require upwards of nine months for a full recovery.
“Shoot, I have to listen to Tandy,” he said.
NEWS and NOTES
Other injury updates: World-title contender Ryan McConnel, who is currently ranked sixth in the world standings, dislocated the middle finger of his riding hand when he bucked off a bull at a practice pen in Oklahoma. McConnel, who posted photos of the injury on his Facebook page, said he’s since ridden two bulls, and will be ready for the BFTS event in Tulsa.
J.B. Mauney, who currently sits at No. 7 in the world standings, got on his first practice bulls since suffering a partially-collapsed lung (WATCH VIDEO) in Wichita, Kan. Mauney rode two practice bulls last Wednesday, and then entered a local jackpot event in North Carolina, on Saturday. He drew his own bull, Just Bad, and won the event with a 91-point effort.
Top wrecks of 2010: Watch the top wrecks of 2010, then vote for the worst here.
